Storage and vending apparatus



Jan. 30, 1962 c. WEBER STORAGE AND VENDING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 26, 1958 Illlllllmn R mE m mw L m m C m m mw u m an.

ATT'YS Jan. 30, 1962 c. WEBER STORAGE AND VENDING APPARATUS I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 26, 1958 I j \\Yw INVENTOR. C A R L W E B ER v. 2 mm 9 i8 I W v T L 2 mm vN 2 & mm m. 1 mm :9 v M N m m v 3 vN 8 \2 I 8 rates Patent 3,i,92 Patented Jan. 30, I962 3,018,920 TORAGE AND VENDING APPARATUS Carl Weber, Chicago, 11]., assignor to Automatic Canteen Company of America, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 26, 1958, Ser. No. 737,937 10 Claims. (Cl. 221-90) This invention relates to storage and vending apparatus and, more particularly, to storage and vending apparatus of the type which is particularly well adapted for use in coin-controlled vending machines, and the like.

It is a primary object of the present invention to afford novel storage and vending apparatus embodying shelves constituted and arranged in a novel and expeditious manner.

In some instances it is desirable to construct vending machines, and the like, in such a manner that the articles to be vended or dispensed therefrom are stored therein on individual shelves, and the articles are selectively or successively dispensed from such shelves. Shelf-type vending machines have been heretofore known in the art. However, machines of such type which have been heretofore known have had several inherent disadvantages such as, for example, being large and bulky in size, being ineflicient and unreliable in operation; requiring complicated actuating mechanisms; being expensive to manufacture, or the like. It is an important object of this invention to overcome such disadvantages.

Another object of this invention is to enable novel shelf-type vending machines to be constructed in a novel and expeditious manner.

Another object is to afford novel shelf-type vending apparatus which is compact in size and shape, and which may be readily embodied in vending machines, storage bins, and the like, to afford a plurality of storage shelves from which the contents of the respective individual shelves may be successively removed from storage in a novel and expeditious manner.

Yet another object of the present invention is to afford novel shelf-type vending apparatus wherein a plurality of shelves may be disposed in vertical alignment one above the other for the storage of articles thereon, and the shelves may be individually actuated in a novel and expeditious manner to discharge the contents thereof.

A further object of this invention is to alford novel shelf-type vending apparatus wherein a plurality of shelves may be disposed in horizontally projecting position, with the shelves disposed in vertically aligned spaced relation to each other, and the shelves may be successively tilted downwardly in a novel and expeditious manner to suecessively discharge the contents of the individual shelves.

Another object of the present invention is to afford novel shelf-type vending apparatus embodying vertically disposed tiers of shelves wherein the shelves have an article-storing position and an article-discharging position, with the shelves being disposed in horizontally extending position when in storing position and being disposed in overlappng juxtaposition to each other when disposed in discharging position.

Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel shelf-type vending apparatus embodying a plurality of shelves which may be successively actuated from a horizontally extending position to a substantially vertically extending position with each shelf actuating the next successive shelf in a novel and expeditious manner.

A further object of the present invention is to enable shelf-type vending apparatus of the aforementioned type to be actuated by a single slide member in a novel and expeditious manner.

. Another object of the present invention is to aiford a' novel shelf-type vending apparatus embodying shelves and actuating mechanism therefor constituted and arranged in a novel and expeditious manner.

An ancillary object is to enable such shelves and actuating mechanism to be arranged in a novel and compact manner on a relatively simple channel-shaped supporting member.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show the preferred embodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof, and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of storage and vending apparatus embodying the principles of my invention;

FIG. 2 is another front perspective view of the storage and vending apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail perspective view of a portion of the storage and vending apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken sub stantially along the line 4-4 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view similar to FIG. 4, but showing certain parts disposed in different position; and

FIG. 6 is a detail sectional view similar to FIGS. 4 and 5, but showing certain parts disposed in still a different position.

Storage and vending apparatus 1, embodying the principles of my invention, is shown in the accompanying drawings to illustrate the preferred embodiment of my invention.

In general, the storage and vending apparatus 1 cmbodies a plurality of shelves 2 pivotally mounted on a supporting member of supporting bracket 3 for swinging movement between a substantially horizontally extending storage position, as illustrated by the upper two shelves in FIG. 1, and a downwardly extending discharge position as illustrated by the lowermost shelf 2 in FIG. 1.

The supporting bracket 3 is preferably a straight, substantially channel-shaped, elongated member formed of suitable material such as, for example, sheet steel, and having an elongated substantially flat rear wall or body portion 4, from the opposite longitudinal edge portions of which two side walls 5 and 6, respectively, project forwardly in parallel spaced relation to each other. The supporting bracket 3 may be mounted in vertically extending position by any suitable means such as, for example, by screws or bolts 7 extending through the rear wall 4 and attaching the latter to a suitable supporting member such as a supporting wall 8, FIG. 1.

The shelves 2 are preferably all identical in construction and may be made of any suitable material such as, for example, sheet steel. Each of the shelves embodies an elongated, substantially rectangular-shaped fiat body portion 9 having a front longitudinal edge portion 10 and a rear longitudinal edge portion 11. Two ears or tabs 12 and 13 are formed on and project perpendicularly to the rear edge portions of respective opposite ends of the body portion 9 in parallel relation to each other, FIGS. 1 and 2. The ears 12 and 13 are so disposed on the body portion 9 of the respective shelves 2, that, when the shelves are disposed in the aforementioned horizontally extending position on the supporting bracket 3, the ears 12 and 13 project downwardly from the body portion 9 in closely adjacent parallel relation to the side walls and 6, respectively, of the supporting bracket 3, FIG. 1.

Each of the ears 13 on the shelves 2 embodies a tongue 14 thereon which is disposed in rearwardly projecting position on the lower edge of the ear 13 when the re spective shelf 2 is disposed in the aforementioned horizontally extending position, FIGS. 3 and 4. Each of the ears 13 also embodies a tongue 15 which is disposed forwardly of the tongue 14 and projects perpendicularly inwardly relative thereto from the lower edge portion of the bracket 13 when the shelf 2 on which the bracket 13 is mounted is disposed in the aforementioned horizontally extending position. The tongues 14 and 15 afford latching members and abutment members, respectively, for a purpose which will be discussed in greater detail presently.

A plurality of pins or rods 16 are mounted in and extend horizontally between the sidewalls 5 and 6 of the supporting bracket 3 in vertically spaced parallel relation to each other, FIGS. 1 and 2. Each of the rods 16 has an enlarged head 17 on one end thereof, disposed outwardly of the sidewall 6, and the other ends of the rods 16 project outwardly from the sidewall 5. A plurality of collar members 18 are mounted on the ends of the rods 16 which project outwardly from the sidewall 5, and these collar members are secured to the latter ends of the rods 16 by suitable means such as set screws 19 to thereby retain the rods 16 in the sidewalls 5 and 6.

The shelves 2 are of such length that they may be disposed in longitudinally extending position between the sidewalls 5 and 6 of the mounting bracket 3. When so disposed therein, the ears 12 and 13 are disposed in closely adjacent relation to the inner face of the sidewalls 5 and 6, respectively. Each of the rods 16 project through the cars 12 and 13 of a respective one of the shelves 2 to thereby pivotally mount the shelf 2 for vertical swinging movement between the sidewalls 5 and 6.

Each of the cars 13 has a substantially square opening 20 extending therethrough which is several times larger than the diameters of the rods 16, and the rods 16 extend through the openings 20 in the respective cars 13 so that the right end of the shelves 2, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, may be moved transversely to the length of the rods 16. At the other end of the shelves 2, the rods 16 project through the cars 12 in relatively closely fitting relation thereto, the fit being suificiently loose to permit the aforementioned transverse movement of the right end of the shelf 2 relative to the rods 16.

A slot 21 is formed in each of the ears 13 inwardly of the tongues 14, FIGS. 3 and 4, to thereby afford a cam surface 22 facing downwardly toward the tongue 14 at an upwardly and rearwardly opening acute angle to the horizontal when the respective shelf 2 is disposed in the aforementioned horizontally extending position. The cam surfaces 22 on the cars 13 are disposed in such position that, when the shelves 2 are disposed in the aforementioned downwardly extending positions, the surfaces 22 project rearwardly from the body portions 9 of the respective shelves 2 at a downwardly and rearwardly opening acute angle as shown in FIGS. 46.

Each of the shelves 2 also embodies an elongated tab 23 which projects longitudinally from the end of the body portion 9 thereof from which the ear 13 projects. The tabs 23 project horizontally across in front of the sidewall 6 of the supporting bracket 3 in all positions of the shelves 2, FIGS. 1 and 3.

A plurality of tension coil springs 24 are attached to the tabs 23. Each of the coil springs 24 has one end attached to a respective one of the tabs 23, and extends downwardly and rearwardly therefrom across the outer face of the sidewall 6. The other ends of the respective coil springs 24 are attached to a flange 25 which projects outwardly from the rearwall 4 of the supporting bracket 3 in perpendicular relation to the sidewall 6, FIG. 2. The coil springs 24 are of such length and are so disposed on the shelves 2 and the supporting bracket 3 as to continuously urge the shelves 2 toward the aforementioned downwardly extending position thereof.

A plurality of vertically aligned tongues 26 are struck from the rear wall 4 of the supporting bracket 3, FIGS. 1 and 4, and project forwardly therefrom at a downwardly and forwardly opening acute angle. The tongues 26 are spaced from each other vertically along the rear wall 4 of the supporting bracket 3, and each is so positioned thereon as to afford a latching member for latchingly engaging the tongue 14 of a respective one of the shelves 2, when that shelf is disposed in the aforementioned horizontally extending position, FIGS. 46, as will be discussed in greater detail presently.

An elongated slide member 27 is disposed on the sidewall 6 of the supporting bracket 3 in juxtaposition to the outer face thereof. The slide member 27 is disposed between the enlarged heads 17 of the rods 16 and the outer face of the sidewall 6, FIG. 2. A plurality of elongated slots,28 are formed in the slide member 27 in longitudinally aligned, spaced relation to each other. The slots 28 extend longitudinally of the slide 27, and the rods 16 extend through respective ones thereof.

A tension coil spring 29 has one end portion attached to the slide 27, and projects upwardly and rearwardly therefrom, FIG. 2. The other end portion of the coil spring 29 is attached to the flange 25 on the supporting bracket 3, and the coil spring 29 is of such length and is so disposed between the slide 27 and the flange 25 as to normally hold the slide 27 in fully raised position wherein the rods 16 are disposed in engagement with the lower ends of the respective slots 28 through which they extend, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.

A plurality of longitudinally aligned, vertically spaced elongated slots 30 are formed in the sidewall 6 of the supporting bracket 3, and a plurality of pins 31 are mounted on and project inwardly from the slide 27 through respective ones of the slots 30, FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6. The slots 30 are so disposed in the sidewall 6 of the supporting bracket 3, and the pins 31 are so disposed on the slide member 27, that when the slide member 27 is disposed in the aforementioned normally raised position, wherein the rods 16 are disposed in engagement with the lower ends of the slots 28, the pins 31 are disposed in engagement with the upper ends of the slots 30, FIG. 4. When the pins 31 are so disposed in the aforementioned normally raised position, and the shelves 2 are disposed in horizontally extending position, the pins 31 are disposed in abutting engagement with forwardly facing shoulders 32 formed on the lower end portions of respective ears 13 on the shelves 2, forwardly of the tongues 14. Hence, it will be seen that with the shelves 2 disposed in the aforementioned horizontally extending position, wherein the tongues 14 are disposed in underlying latching engagement with respective ones of the tongues 26, the pins 31, when in raised position, are efiective through their engagement with the shoulders 32 to prevent the horizontally extending shelves 2 from being moved forwardly and, therefore, prevent such shelves 2 from being released from latching engagement with the tongues 26.

The openings 20 in the cars 13 are preferably substantially square in shape, FIGS. 46, and each embodies a substantially straight side 33 disposed in closely underlying parallel relation to the body portion 9 of the respective shelf 2, a side 34 disposed in inwardly spaced parallel relation to the side 22, and two parallel sides 35 and 36 extending between the sides 33 and 34.

It will be remembered that the coil springs 24 extend downwardly and rearwardly from the tabs 23 on the shelves 2, and, hence, the springs 24 are effective to urge the shelves 2 downwardly and rearwardly in all positions thereof. This downward and rearward urging of the springs 24 tends to maintain the shelves 2 in such position on the respective pins 16 that the pins 16 extend through the upper right corner portion of the openings 20 in the cars 13 of the shelves 2, as viewed in FIGS. 4, and 6.

Thus, when the shelves 2 are disposed in the aforementioned normally raised horizontally extending position, illustrated by the two intermediate shelves shown in FIG. 4, the pins 16 extend through the respective openings 30 adjacent to the junction of the sides 33 and 36 thereof. The tongues 14 and 26 are so disposed on the shelves 2 and the supporting bracket 3, respectively, that when the shelves 2 are disposed in this last mentioned position the ton-gues 14 are disposed in underlying, abutting engagement with the respective tongues 26 to thereby hold the shelves 2 in said horizontally extending position. With the shelves 2 disposed in this position, and with the slide 27 disposed in normally raised position, as shown in FIG. 4, the pins 31 on the slide 2'7 are disposed forwardly of the respective shoulders 32 on the brackets 13 in abutting engagement therewith to thereby afford a positive latch for holding the tongues 14 in rearwardly underlying relation to the free edges of the tongues 26.

When the shelves 2 are disposed in downwardly projecting position, such as illustrated by the lowermost shelf in FIG. 4, the sides 33 and 34 thereof are disposed in vertically extending position, with the sides 35 and 36 extending horizontally. The springs 24 are still effective to urge the thus positioned shelves 2 downwardly and rearwardly so that, normally, the shelves 2 are yieldingly held by the springs 24 in such position on the rods 16 that the rods 16 are disposed adjacent to the junction of the sides 35 and 33 of the respective opening 20.

- With the shelves 2 of my novel apparatus disposed in the position shown in FIG. 4, wherein the lowermost shelf is disposed in downwardly depending position, and the shelves 2 thereabove disposed in horizontally projecting position, the cam surface 22 on the downwardly depending lowermost shelf is disposed in closely underlying relation to the pin 31 disposed in abutting engagement with the shoulder 32 of the shelf immediately thereabove. Also, the tongue 14 on the lowermost shelf is disposed behind, and in horizontal alignment with, the tongue 15 on the shelf 2 disposed immediately thereabove.

With the parts of my novel apparatus disposed in this last mentioned position, if the slide 27 is moved downwardly from its normal raised position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, to its fully lowered position as shown in FIG. 5, the pins 31 are moved downwardly out of engagement with the respective shoulders 32 with which they were engaged in the position shown in FIG. 4. At this same time, the lowermost pin 31, shown in FIG. 4, is moved downwardly into engagement with the cam surface 22 immediately therebelow and is effective to slide the aforementioned right end of the lowermost shelf 2 forwardly on its supporting rod 16 from the position shown in FIG. 4 to the position shown in FIG. 5. During this movement of the lowermost shelf 2, the side 35 of the opening 20 therein slides across the rod 16 into position wherein the rod 16 is disposed adjacent to the junction of the sides 35 and 34. This forward movement of the right end of the lowermost shelf 2 is effective to move the tongue 14 thereof forwardly or to the right, as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 5. The tongue 14 of a lowered shelf 2 is normally engaged with the tongue 15 on the next higher adjacent shelf 2, when the latter is in normally raised position, and, therefore, the forward movement of the tongue 14 is effective to slide the right end of the last mentioned shelf forwardly on its supporting pin 16. During this movement of the last mentioned shelf 2, the side 33 of the opening 30 therein slides across the supporting rod 16 therefor into position wherein the supporting rod 16 is disposed adjacent to the junction of the sides 33 and 35. This movement of the second shelf from the bottom, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, is effective to move the tongue 14 thereof forwardly out of engagement with its respective tongue 26 to thereby free the shelf 2 from its latching engagement with the tongue 26. However, when the slide 27 is disposed in full downward position as shown in FIG. 5, the lowermost pin 31 is engaged with the innermost portion of the cam surface 22 to thereby hold the tongue 14 on the lowermost shelf 2 in full forward position so that it is efiective, through its engagement with the tongue 15 on the next higher adjacent shelf 2, to hold the latter shelf against downward swinging movement.

When the slide 27 is again freed to move upwardly under the urging of the spring 29, the aforementioned lowermost pin 31 moves upwardly on the adjacent cam surface 22 to thereby permit the tongue 14 on the lowermost shelf to move rearwardly out of engagement with the adjacent tongue 15, thus permitting the aforementioned next adjacent shelf to swing downwardly around its supporting rod 16 from the position shown in FIG. 5 to downwardly extending position as shown in FIG. 6. During this downwardly swinging movement of the shelf 2 any articles stored thereon are permitted to drop therefrom.

As may best be seen in FIGS. 4 to 6, inclusive, the parts of my novel apparatus are so constituted and arranged that the aforementioned reciprocation of the slide 27, which is effective to move each of the fully lowered shelves and the next upwardly adjacent horizontally extending shelf to the right, as viewed in FIGS. 4-6, is not efiective to so move any of the other horizontally extending shelves. Thus, for example, it will be seen that the third shelf from the bottom shown in FIGS. 4-6, inclusive, is not afiected by the aforementioned reciprocation of the slide 27, the pin 31, which normally is disposed in engagement wi-th the shoulder 32 on this last mentioned shelf 2, merely being moved downwardly out of engagement therewith and back upwardly into engagement therewith during the aforementioned reciprocation of the slide 27. However, during the next cycle of operation, the second shelf from the bottom shown in FIGS. 4-6 having been swung into downwardly extending position during the just discussed cycle of operation, the reciprocation of the slide 27 will be effective to move the top shelf shown in FIGS. 4-6, inclusive, to the right and permit it to swing downwardly into downwardly extending, article-discharging position. Thus, by merely repeatedly reciprocating the slide 27, the shelves 2 may be successively dropped from horizontally extending position to downwardly depending position, with the lowermost shelves being dropped first.

It will be noted that no latch 26 is provided for the lowermost shelf 2 shown in the drawings. This is for the reason that the lowermost shelf 2 is never latched into horizontally extending position, so that its cam surface 22 is always disposed in upwardly facing position and is effective to be engaged by the adjacent pin 31 to initiate the discharging operations of my novel apparatus 1.

In the operation of my novel storage and vending apparatus 1, all of the shelves 2 disposed above the lowermost shelf 2 thereof may be manually swung upwardly in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 4, from downwardly depending position into fully raised horizontally extending position, wherein the tongues 14 are disposed in latching engagement with the tongues 26 to thereby normally hold the shelves in such raised position. Articles to be stored on the shelves, and to be vended therefrom, may then be loaded thereonto. Thereafter, whenever it is desired to remove the contents of one of the thus loaded shelves 2 from storage, the slide 27 may be reciprocated downwardly and upwardly through a complete stroke by suitable means such as, for example, by manual actuation of a handle 37 thereon, FIG. 2, to thereby cause the lowermost raised shelf 2 to be swung downwardly into depending position and thereby discharge the stored article or articles from that shelf. This cycle of operation may be repeated for each of the other horizontally extending shelves 2 to thereby discharge the articles of each successively higher shelf to be discharged from my novel storage and vending apparatus.

It will be seen that my novel storage and vending apparatus is particularly well adapted for use in commercial, coin-controlled vending machines, and the like, being compact in size and being relatively simple in operation. The apparatus 1 may be readily mounted in proper storage and vending position by merely attaching the back wall 4 of the supporting bracket 3 to a suitable supporting structure such as the wall 8 shown in FIG. 1, and such a wall 8 could be a suitable wall of the cabinet of a coin operated vending machine.

If my novel apparatus 1 is used in a coin operated vending machine, there would, of course, be associated therewith suitable apparatus, not shown, for effecting and controlling the actuation of the slide 27. However, any suitable type of such actuating mechanism could be used in association with my novel apparatus and forms no part of the present invention, it being sufiicient for the purposes of the present disclosure to understand that reciprocation of the slide 27 may be effected by any suitable type of apparatus including a manually actuated handle, such as the handle 37 shown in FIG. 2.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that, although my novel apparatus is particularly well adapted for use in vending machines, and the like, it is not limited thereto and may be embodied in storage bins, and the like. In such an embodiment, the slide 27 may well be manually actuated by manipulation of a handle such as the handle 37 to thereby effect discharge of the contents of the shelves 2 successively beginning with the lowermost shelves.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have afforded novel storage and vending apparatus which is well adapted for use in coin-controlled vending machines, storage bins, or the like.

Also, it will be seen that I have afforded a novel storage and vending apparatus which is compact in size, and which is efficient and reliable in operation.

In addition, it will be seen that my invention affords novel storage and vending apparatus which is relatively simple in construction and may be readily and economically produced commercially.

Thus, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Vending apparatus comprising supporting means, a plurality of shelves, means mounting said shelves on said supporting means for sliding and pivotal movement, said shelves being adapted to swing between a horizontally extending position and a vertically extending position, means urging said shelves toward said vertically extending position, latching means on said supporting means for releasably holding said shelves in said horizon tally extending position, a cam surface on each of said shelves, complementary abutment means on each adjacent pair of said shelves, and slide means engageable with said cam surfaces for pressing said abutment means on one of said adjacent shelves against said abutment means on the other of said adjacent shelves to thereby free said other shelf from said latching means for swinging movement from said horizontally extending position to said vertically extending position.

2. Vending apparatus comprising supporting means, a plurality of shelves, means mounting said shelves on said supporting means for sliding and pivotal movement, said shelves being adapted to swing between a horizontally extending position and a vertically extending position, means urging said shelves toward said vertically extending position, latching means on said supporting means for releasably holding said shelves in said horizontally extending position, a cam surface on each of said shelves, complementary abutment means on each adjacent pair of said shelves, said abutment means being disposed on said shelves in such position that, when one shelf of each of said pairs of shelves is disposed in said vertically extending position and is moved horizontally away from said latching means with the other shelf of said pair disposed in said horizontally extending position, said abutment means on said one shelf is moved into engagement with said abutment means on said other shelf in position to free said other shelf from said latching means for swinging movement from said horizontally extending position to said vertically extending position, and abutment means movably mounted on said supporting means and engageable with said cam surface of said one shelf in position to so move said one shelf away from said latching means upon movement of said abutment means in one direction.

3. Vending apparatus comprising supporting means, a plurality of shelves, means mounting said shelves on said supporting means for sliding and pivotal movement, said shelves being adapted to swing between a horizontally extending position and a vertically extending position, means urging said shelves toward said vertically extending position, said shelves being disposed in vertically aligned spaced relation to each other when in said horizontally extending position, adjacent ones of said shelves being disposed in overlapped relation to each other when in said vertically extending position, latching means on said supporting means, other latching means on said shelves engageable with said first mentioned latching means when said shelves are disposed in said horizontally extending position for releasably holding said shelves in said last mentioned position, said shelves being horizon tally slidable toward and away from said first mentioned latching means when disposed in said horizontally extending position, and means, including slide means reciprocable vertically on said supporting means and engageable with said shelves, for successively sliding said shelves horizontally away from said first mentioned latching means and thereby progressively release said other latching means from said first mentioned latching means from the lower ones of said shelves to the upper ones thereof to successively free said shelves for pivotal movement from said horizontally extending position to said vertically extending position.

4. Vending apparatus comprising supporting means, a plurality of shelves, means mounting said shelves on said supporting means for sliding and pivotal movement, said shelves being adapted to swing between a horizontally extending position and a vertically extending position, means urging said shelves toward said vertically extending position, said shelves being disposed in vertically aligned spaced relation to each other when in said horizontally extending position and being slidable horizontally on said supporting means, adjacent ones of said shelves being disposed in overlapped relation to each other when in said vertically extending position, latching means on said supporting means, other latching means on said shelves engageable with said first mentioned latching means when said shelves are disposed in said horizontally extending position for releasably holding said shelves in said last mentioned position, abutment means on each of said shelves, said abutment means being so disposed on each of said shelves that, when one of said shelves is disposed in said horizontally extending position and another shelf immediately therebelow is disposed in said vertically extending position, said abutment means on said one shelf is disposed on the other side of said other latching means on said other shelf from said first mentioned latching means in position to be operatively engaged by said last mentioned other latching means upon sliding movement of said last mentioned other shelf away from said first mentioned latching means, and means for moving said shelves from said horizontally extending position to said vertically extending position, said last named means comprising actuating means for moving each of said shelves away from said first mentioned latching means when the said shelf to be so moved is disposed in said vertically extending position and the said shelf thereabove is disposed in said horizontally extending position to thereby slide said last mentioned shelf away from said first mentioned latching means and thereby move said other latching means on said last mentioned shelf out of engagement with said first mentioned latching means.

5. Vending apparatus comprising supporting means, a plurality of shelves, means mounting said shelves on said supporting means for sliding and pivotal movement, said shelves being adapted to swing between a horizontally extending position and a vertically extending position, means urging said shelves toward said vertically extending position, said shelves being disposed in vertically aligned spaced relation to each other when in said horizontally extending position, adjacent ones of said shelves being disposed in overlapped relation to each other when in said vertically extending position, latching means on said supporting means, other latching means on said shelves engageable with said first mentioned latching means when said shelves are disposed in said horizontally extending position for releasably holding said shelves in said last mentioned position, said shelves being horizontally slidable on said supporting means toward and away from said first mentioned latching means, abutment means on each of said shelves, said abutment means being so disposed on each of said shelves that, when one of said shelves is disposed in said horizontally extending position and another shelf immediately therebelow is disposed in said vertically extending position, said abutment means on said one shelf is engaged with said other latching means on said other shelf on the other side of said other latching means on said other shelf fom said first mentioned latching means, and reciprocable slide means engageable with each of said shelves disposed in said vertically extending position for moving said last mentioned shelf into position to operatively push said other latching means thereon against said abutment means on the shelf immediately thereabove, when said last mentioned shelf is disposed in said horizontally extending position, and thereby horizontally slide said last mentioned shelf into position to free said other latching means thereon from said first mentioned latching means for movement of said last mentioned shelf to said vertically ex ending position.

6. Storage and vending apparatus comprising supporting means, a plurality of shelves, means pivotally and slidably mounting said shelves on said supporting means for movement between one position wherein articles may be stored thereon and another position wherein articles may be discharged therefrom, means urging said shelves toward said other position, latching means on said supporting means, other latching means on each of said shelves, abutment means on each of said shelves, said other latching means being disposed on each of said shelves in such position as to project into latching engagement with said first mentioned latching means when said shelf is disposed in said one position and to project upwardly into position between said first mentioned latching means and said abutment means on an adjacent shelf when said adjacent shelf is disposed in said one position and said first mentioned one shelf is disposed in said other position, and means for moving said other latching means on said one shelf away from said first mentioned latching means, when said one shelf is disposed in said other position and said adjacent shelf is disposed in said one position, into position to move said other latching means on said adjacent shelf out of said latching engagement with said first mentioned latching means and thereby free said adjacent shelf for movement from said one position to said other position.

7. Storage and vending apparatus comprising supporting means, a plurality of shelves, means pivotally slidably mounting said shelves on said supporting means for movement between one position wherein articles may be stored thereon and another position wherein articles may be discharged therefrom, means urging said shelves toward said other position, latching means on said supporting means, other latching means on each of said shelves, abutment means on each of said shelves, said other latching means being disposed on each of said shelves in such position as to project into latching engagement with said first mentioned latching means when said shelf is disposed in said one position and to project upwardly into position between said first mentioned latching means and said abutment means on an adjacent shelf when said adjacent shelf is disposed in said one position and said first mentioned one shelf is disposed in said other position, said shelves being movable outwardly away from said first mentioned latching means, and means for moving said one shelf outwardly away from said first mentioned latching means, when said one shelf is disposed in said other position and said adjacent shelf is disposed in said one position, into position to move said adjacent shelf away from said first mentioned latching means and thereby free said adjacent shelf from said first mentioned latching means for movement from said one position to said other position.

8. Storage and vending apparatus comprising supporting means, a plurality of shelves, means pivotally mounting said shelves on said supporting means for movement between a horizontal position wherein articles may be stored thereon and a vertical position wherein articles may be discharged therefrom, means urging said shelves toward said vertical position, latching means on said supporting means, other latching means on each of said shelves, abutment means on each of said shelves, said other latching means being disposed on each of said shelves in such position as to project into latching engagement with said first mentioned latching means when said shelf is disposed in said horizontally extending position and to project upwardly into position between said first mentioned latching means and said abutment means on an adjacent shelf when said adjacent shelf is disposed in said horizontally extending position and said first mentioned one shelf is disposed in said vertical position, said shelves being movable toward and away from said first mentioned latching means to thereby move said other latching means into and out of said latching engagement therewith, and means slidably mounted on said supporting means and engaged with said means pivotally mounting said shelves for moving said one shelf outwardly away from said first mentioned latching means, when said one shelf is disposed in said other position and said adjacent shelf is disposed in said one position, to press said other latching means on said one shelf against said abutment means on said adjacent shelf and move said adjacent shelf away from said first mentioned latching means and thereby free said adjacent shelf from said first mentioned latching means for movement from said one position to said other position.

9. Storage and vending apparatus comprising an elongated, vertically extending, substantially channel-shaped supporting member having a central body portion and two parallel sides projecting forwardly from opposite longitudinal edges of said body portion, a plurality of shelves, pin means mounted in said sides and said shelves in spaced relation to each other and pivotally and slidably mounting said shelves between said sides for vertical swinging movement between a horizontally extending position and a downwardly extending overlapped position, means urging said shelves toward said downwardly extending position, a plurality of tongues projecting forwardly from said body portion at a downwardly opening angle in vertically spaced relation to each other, latching means mounted on said shelves in position to project rearwardly therefrom into underlying latching engagement with said tongues when said shelves are disposed in said horizontally extending position to thereby retain said shelves in said last mentioned position, said shelves being horizontally movable toward and away from said body portion to thereby move said latching means into and out of latching engagement with said tongues, abutment means on said shelves, said abutment means on each respective shelf being so disposed thereon that, when said respective shelf is disposed in said horizontally extending position and the next lower adjacent shelf thereto is disposed in said downwardly extending position, said abutment means on said respective shelf is disposed in for wardly adjacent relation to said latching means on said adjacent shelf in such position that movement of said adjacent shelf away from said body portion is effective to operatively press said latching means thereon against said abutment means on said respective shelf and thereby move said respective shelf away from body portion to thereby free said latching means on said respective shelf from said latching engagement, cam means on said shelves, and slide means reciprocably mounted on one of said sides and engaged with said cam means on each of said shelves when the latter is disposed in said downwardly extending position for'moving said last mentioned shelves forwardly from said body portion to thereby move the next upwardly adjacent shelf disposed in said horizontally extending position forwardly away from said body portion into position to free said latching member on said last mentioned shelf from said tongues and free said last mentioned shelf for vertical swinging movement to said downwardly extending position.

10. Vending apparatus comprising supporting means, a plurality of shelves, means mounting said shelves on said supporting means for pivotal and horizontal sliding movement, said mounting means for respective ones of said shelves being vertically spaced from said mounting means for other of said shelves, said shelves being adapted to swing between a normal position and an actuated position and being disposed in vertically spaced relation to each other when disposed in said normal position, means engaging said shelves when said shelves are disposed in said normal position to releasably hold said shelves in said normal position, and actuating means movably mounted on said supporting means for successive reciprocation through a predetermined path of travel in position to engage said shelves and successively slide each of said shelves horizontally away from said engaging means and thereby free said shelf for pivotal movement from said normal position to said actuated position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 402,773 Simons May 7, 1889 2,483,352 Settecasi Sept. 27, 1949 2,827,200 Lux Mar. 18, 1958 2,884,163 Du Grenier et al Apr. 28, 1959 2,896,817 Holstein July 28, 1959 

